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Grace Choi, a Harvard University student, has taken advantage of a 3D printing opportunty that promises to upend the women’s cosmetics industry by allowing women to print out their own makeup in any shade and color desired. Makeup that can cost hundreds of dollars at any boutique can be custom made on a new 3D printer called, appropriately, the Mink for the cost of raw materials, which can be had for next to nothing. The range of color that will be available will far exceed anything that is offered at a high end boutique, not to mention a drug store.

According to Technology Tell, Choi demonstrated how to make eye shadow. She ripped the code for the eye shadow from a makeup tutorial, printed it out, and then applied it in the space of a second. This was done using proof of concept prototype. The process works for other types of cosmetics such as lipstick

The Mink makeup 3D printer will retail for $300 at first, but the price will likely come down over time. The ink that provides the color has already been approved by the FDA.

The effect of a 3D makeup printer will be to make the Internet into giant beauty boutique that anyone can access. People will be able to take a picture of their friend’s lipstick with a smart phone, for example, and then replicate it exactly on the printer.

Choi is marketing the printer to girls and women 13-21 years of age who are developing their own makeup habits and are comfortable with the new technology.